BRICK - After a 27-year-old township resident was caught stealing from a car on 16th Avenue, he tried to flee police and violently resisted officers as they attempted to stop him early Monday morning, police said.

The incident began at 1:21 a.m. Monday after Brick police were called to Riviera Drive for a report of a car burglary in progress. The caller said he spotted a man dressed in all black near his car, which was parked in the driveway of his home, according to a news release from Sgt. Neal Pedersen.

While driving to the scene, an officer saw a man dressed in black at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and McKinley Court, about two blocks away from the reported burglary. The man identified himself to an officer as Justin Longstreet, 27, of Brick, according to the release.

Longstreet told police he was walking from the River Rock Restaurant and Marina Bar on Route 70. In response to officers' questions, he claimed he did not have identification. Officers glimpsed a wallet in the pocket of Longstreet's sweat pants, which he claimed was not his and he had found on a nearby street, Pedersen wrote.

Police took possession of the wallet and found credit cards inside belonging to a 16th Avenue resident, Pedersen wrote.

While officers spoke to the suspect, he turned and bolted down the street. He made it about 15 feet before an officer grabbed Longstreet and he "physically resisted," sending both himself and an officer tumbling onto the ground, police said.

"While on the ground Longstreet continued attempting to assault officers. After a brief struggle, Longstreet was placed into custody," Pedersen wrote.

An officer sustained minor injuries to his face and knee during the fracas.

Police concluded that the wallet in Longstreet's possession was stolen from an unlocked GMC Canyon parked on 16th Avenue. The wallet was returned to the victim, according to the release.

The initial caller on Riviera Drive gave police surveillance footage that showed a man fitting Longstreet's "general description" going into his driveway and attempting to break into his locked vehicle, police said.

Longstreet was charged with burglary, theft, obstructing the administration of law, resisting arrest and two counts of aggravated assault. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail where he remained as of Tuesday.